Behold Castle Talonstone, the eldest keep of the Griffin Knight’s alpine domain...

Mingle in the market, transport your gear up the castle elevator, mount your defenses, and study the stars with Castle Talonstone!

Storytime:

This keep spans the stone arch of Talonstone, the ancient roost of the Great Griffin. According to Legend, once the Great Griffin’s protection had ultimately ushered in an era of peace & prosperity, it flew straight up into the stars, transforming into a constellation to aid the Griffin Rangers' navigation through the mountains for the rest of time...

The knights of old honored their departed protector by building a great keep spanning the arch, or so the legend goes...

So here we find our castle, in the dawn of Spring, deep into the Griffin’s alpine territory. Flowers have begun to bloom & the castle is bustling with activity.

The moody chef Olaf has begun preparing a meal for a private dinner between King Leopold Goldfeather II and Brom, captain of the Royal Griffin Guard. The brave ranger Sir Johnny has finally returned from a mountainous winter expedition to search for any signs of remote Kraken activity, after a spy was caught nearby last autumn. He has much to report to Captain Brom, who will relay the findings to King Leopold and talk future plans while enjoying Olaf’s characteristically messy, but always-delicious meal.

Meanwhile, the King has tasked the castle’s Magister, Llewyn, with studying the Griffin constellation in hopes that the Great Griffin might return to aid him with the looming Kraken threat. King Leopold’s son, the young Prince Calvin, has also taken an interest in the subject. Because of their geography, the Griffin Kingdom has a uniquely clear view of the stars, and most Griffins know them well, using them to navigate the mountains, study the great legends, and portend future events.

But Calvin is also roused by the return of Ranger Johnny, his eldest cousin and swordsmanship instructor. And Llewyn has taken up painting in hopes of impressing the food merchant Zora, who unfortunately may have her eyes on the castle’s lumberjack, Wulfric, who is busy delivering wood to light Olaf’s oven. Fortunately for Llewyn, he believes his masterpiece is underway… his best landscape yet!

The castle market is also brimming with activity, in addition to the comers & goers of the nearby town, Olaf patronizes Zora for his upcoming feast, and Sir Johnny plans to stop by Quentin’s weapons booth to replace some of his well-worn arms post-expedition.

The stout Luthera, the king's most trusted personal guard, surveils the scene from the castle's entrance, while Queen Sigrid, once a brave ranger herself, takes in the beautiful view, for but a moment forgetting the looming Kraken threat nestled in the shadows of their future.

Designer Notes:

This design was inspired by Castles from the Swiss Alps, mashed of course with the natural stone arches found throughout the world!

It is designed to be open, but it does indeed close! In fact, closing it transforms the piece quite a bit, from a wide keep spanning an arch, to a more compact, but looming tower built into a rocky spire.

Castle interior:

Basement- Kitchen & Dungeon with cave entrance

First level- Throne Room, armory, interior balcony & elevator access.

Second level- War room & Astronomy study, exterior balconies & elevator access (castle thoroughfare)

Third level- Baracks, Dining room, lookout deck & defense parapets.

Fourth level- King’s Quarters & private study

*Also, one key feature every castle needs… plenty of stairs!

Dimensions (While open)

Width: 59.1cm/ 23.3 Inches

Depth: 30.2cm/ 11.9 Inches

Height: 53.1cm/ 20.9 Inches